Agriculture

The origins of most food products such as bread, milk, meat, fruit, vegetables, sugar and so on are in agriculture. Farmers grow crops and raise animals to fulfil the demands of today’s food supply chain and production methods vary greatly from small organic farms to industrial agriculture.

Inevitably, farming has an important impact on the environment and ensuring a safe, sustainable supply of food for the world’s fast growing population is a major challenge for the future of agriculture.

Pesticides are substances used to repel or destroy harmful organisms known as pests (e.g. insects, weeds, fungi or rodents) to prevent diseases, or protects plants or plant products during production, storage and transport...

There is a growing consensus that human activities may be changing our planet’s climate. These changes in climate have a number of possible implications for human health and welfare, one of which could be the safety of food.

Consumers may wonder, as they bite into a piece of fresh fruit or crunch on a vegetable, what extra “ingredients” they might be about to swallow. The latest report from the European Commission on pesticides and food should allay any concerns in the minds of those who appreciate the goodness in healthy, fresh produce.

Theobroma cacao means food of the gods. It is also the botanical name for the cocoa tree, a much-revered crop for thousands of years. Satisfying the world's growing appetite for chocolate is an interesting case study in the development of sustainable agriculture.

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Food facts for healthy choices

EUFIC is a non-profit organisation that provides clear, practical information on food and health, based on sound science. We believe in a world where people choose to live healthily because they know how to.